It’s Saturday Morning!: Celebrating the Golden Era of Cartoons 1960s – 1990s

With concept art, archival images, all-new interviews, and a foreword by Bobby’s World creator and funnyman Howie Mandel, It’s Saturday Morning! celebrates the shows, characters, songs, and commercials that made Saturday mornings a pop culture event—decade by decade. Broadcasting into family living rooms from the 1960s to the 1990s, this wildly creative art form wrought a beloved rite of passage. From the hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., parents could sleep in while their children plopped on the couch to consume cartoons galore . From The Bugs Bunny Show , The Jetsons , and Jonny Quest to The Smurfs , He-Man , and Animaniacs , this window of time promised pure entertainment and an experience that united generations . Organized by decade , find profiles of the most beloved Saturday morning cartoons : 1960s: The Flintstones , Bugs Bunny , Space Ghost , and more! 1970s: The Pink Panther , Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! , Fat Albert , and more! 1980s: The Smurfs , The Adventures of the Gummi Bears , The Transformers , and more! 1990s: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Animaniacs , Pinky and the Brain , and more! Each show profile is accompanied by easy-reference stats (years on air, network, number of episodes, and characters and voice actors), promotional and concept images of the cartoons , and candid photos of its creators and actors . The commentary explores the cultural setting that influenced its creation and behind-the-scenes insights from the show’s producers and artists. This entertaining walk down memory lane is made complete by a review of some of the iconic products advertised between these favorite cartoons. “After These Messages…” segments provide fascinating facts about the merchandise that appeared in Saturday morning commercials , such as the Slinky, Lite-Brite, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Golden Crisp cereal. This exquisitely produced guide to the golden era of cartoons is perfect for artists and illustrators, pop culture fanatics, or anyone who loves a heaping portion of nostalgia.